July 08, 2007

There's a stack of mystery novels from the library on my coffee table, and I decided it would make me happy to have a cute bookmark to use when reading them. But dragging out all the craft stuff wasn't worth it for just one, and all of grandma's fabric scraps were so lovely that I had to make MORE. So I did a bunch and tossed them into the etsy shop.

To make some like this: Use that super-sticky archival Canson self-adhesive paper and cut shapes in it with an X-acto knife. Peel off the backing, stick fabric pieces on to cover the windows you cut, and adhere a second sheet to form the back. Rounding the corners finishes it off.

[Note: Blick stores are the only place I know to get this self-adhesive Canson paper where it's on clearance because they bought out another retailer and are trying to get rid of it. So if you have a Blick near you, go there and buy some pronto. If not, you could try using either regular Canson paper, available in almost every art store, with some spray adhesive or a glue stick, or find other self-adhesive paper. I've seen little books of self-adhesive solid color cardstock at Walmart or Target—one of those big retailers; I forget which one.]

I love Vintage and Vintage sylte fabric and have bought a lot of it at an online store called iluvfabrix.com . This company sells everything at below designer wholesale prices and they have an in house designer that will assist you for free in picking your fabrics and designing your room. They sell Scalamandre, Colefax & Fowler, Cowtan & Tout, Brunschwig & Fils and many, many other high end brands. You can visit them at http://www.iluvfabrix.com

As an alternative to sticky-backed paper, you could try ironing fusible web onto the back of your paper prior to making the cutouts. Once you have your fabric and backing paper in place, simply iron it all together.